The Searl Pickett Chamber Music Series opens with concert by the Wisconsin Brass Quintet, featuring guest organist John Chappell Stowe

The Wisconsin Brass Quintet.

The Searl Pickett Chamber Music Series will open its Fall series on Friday, Sept. 20 with a concert by the Wisconsin Brass Quintet and guest organist John Chappell Stowe, all faculty members at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Music. The performance will begin at 7:30 p.m. at Church of Our Saviour, 9th and Main Streets n Fond du Lac.

The Wisconsin Brass Quintet has presented concerts and master classes throughout the U.S., including performances at Carnegie Hall, international brass conferences, and major universities and conservatories. Their performances and recordings have been acclaimed by nationally recognized musicians and critics. Barry Kilpatrick writes for the American Record Guide, "I've reviewed over 250 brass recordings in the past five years, and this is one of the very best. The WBQ is a remarkable ensemble that plays with more reckless abandon, warmth, stylistic variety, and interpretive interest than almost any quintet in memory." Lending their artistry to the quintet are John Aley and Jessica Jensen, trumpet; Daniel Grabois, horn; Mark Hetzler, trombone; and John Stevens, tuba.

The program will include selections for brass and organ, to take advantage of the church's German-built tracker organ, which was installed at Our Saviour's in 1987. Organist John Chappel Stowe is Professor of Organ at UW. He holds the Doctor of Musical Arts degree and Performer's Certificate from the Eastman School and has appeared throughout the United States as a solo performer and clinician.

Arrangements for this event were made through the UW-Madison Arts Outreach Program, a component of the UW-Madison Arts Institute. For more information about the artists-in-residence, contact (608) 890-3794, e-mail: mperkinson@wisc.edu, or visit artsoutreach.wisc. edu.

Now in its 18th season, the Searl Pickett Chamber Music Series music series was organized especially for the greater Fond du Lac community and features some of the best chamber ensembles based in Wisconsin and the Midwest. The Series was founded by Fond du Lac native Kay Gainacopulos as a tribute to, and in memory of one of Wisconsin's finest band directors and teachers, Searl Pickett. Tickets are $15 and are sold at the door. Season tickets for all four concerts are $45 and will also be available at the door. Students are admitted free.